DISPATCHES FROM THE SOUTH AND WEST MIDLANDS: 28 AND 29 MARCH

With seven meetings taking place across the country – including the latest West Mercian Area fixture of the season at Maisemore Park in Gloucestershire – opportunities again abounded for horses, trainers and jockeys from the South Midlands and West Mercia.

Chris Barber has his string in fine fettle and took his seasonal tally to 24 with four winners at three meetings. On Saturday, Mount Sinai won at Howick in Wales for Clara Brewitt while Skeeter Rock scored at Larkhill with Ed Doggrell. Barber then had a double at what is now his local track, Maisemore Park, on Sunday. James King rode the progressive Carrillo to win the Restricted and Doggrell was again on board for pointing debutant Jack Black, winner of the older horse Maiden.

Connections of Carrillo - Chris Barber is far right - after the race (Tim Sage)

The GB Pointing Bonus Young Horse Maiden there saw an eye-catching front-running performance from Tom George’s newcomer Midem De Berce, ridden by Lucas Murphy. The 16-year-old had earlier taken the Area Conditions Race on his father Timmy’s mare We’llgowats and is now in pole position in the national novice riders’ championship.

Lucas Murphy and Midem De Berce on their way to winning (Carl Evans)

Gina Andrews is currently top of both the national trainer and female rider standings. She only had one runner, and one ride, this weekend, but it was a successful one, Bateleur taking division one of the bumper at the meeting.

Gina Andrews and Bateleur (far side) win the bumper in a close finish (Graham Fisher)

Read Andrew King’s review of all the action at Maisemore Park here.

Back at Howick on Saturday, Bradley Gibbs won on Practice Run, Will Badlan rode his new mare Bluella Bresil – trained by Jo Priest – to a cosy success, while Huw Edwards picked up a winning last minute spare ride on Welsh-trained Flashy Boy. Edwards also travelled to Cotley in Somerset on Sunday to win on two Luke Price-trained horses – Galudon and Lavorante – and trainer Elen Wylie and rider Aimee Jones teamed up to take the Ladies Open with Shang Tang, a first winner of the season for Wylie.

Will Badlan and Bluella Bresil (Alun Sedgmore)

Also getting off the mark for the campaign was Tim Underwood, with Garde La Peche at Larkhill, where Nikki Henton tasted victory for the first time ever with Hybery. It was James King’s turn to team up with Luke Price for a double, courtesy of Shareyourbiscuits and Lightning Legs.

Finally, Joe O’Shea and Henry Crow – who had last combined when Barton Snow won the Cheltenham Foxhunters two weeks earlier – travelled up to Tranwell in Northumberland, where Boley Bob scored for the third time on the bounce.